The executive committee of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce recently appointed Brandom Gengelbach as president and CEO. Gengelbach previously served as president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in Texas.
“The executive committee and board of directors are excited and confident that Brandom Gengelbach’s rich background in business and chamber leadership, economic development, and a commitment to fostering strategic economic growth makes Brandom the ideal president and CEO,” said Martine Downs Pollard, chair of the GBACC Board of Directors. “Brandom brings a wealth of experience, along with a deep-rooted passion for the business community. Combining that with his down-to-earth and personable demeanor, we know he is poised to lead and steer the chamber to new heights during this time of dynamic growth.”
After accepting the position in early October, Gengelbach joined the chamber on Oct. 30 and was publicly introduced yesterday during the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit, just before the Gravity Industries: Transforming Human Flight session and Jet Suit technology demonstration.
“I am truly honored to join the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, an organization that plays a pivotal and convening role in promoting business and enhancing the overall quality of life in Greater Bentonville and northwest Arkansas,” he said. “I look forward to working closely with our members, community partners and stakeholders to help build an even brighter economic future for our region.”
He added that he is excited to join the area’s cycling scene.
“It doesn’t hurt that Bentonville is known for its cycling community,” he said. “The cyclist in me can’t wait to explore all of the trails northwest Arkansas has to offer.”
Gengelbach joined the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in 2016 as executive vice president of economic development. There, he was responsible for the four pillars of the chamber’s strategic plan, Fortify. The pillars are business attraction and retention efforts, talent development, small-business initiatives and advocacy.
He has more than 20 years of experience in economic development and chambers of commerce, having worked in Nashville, Tennessee, Indianapolis and abroad in Brisbane, Australia. In those roles, he showed a talent for marketing city assets and assessing client needs to facilitate corporate relocations and expansions into various cities.
“With the relaunch of our [CEO] search this past spring, alongside the launch of our strategic visioning work, our board of directors and advisors have been on a thoughtful and strategic journey with a commitment to getting it right,” Downs Pollard said. “Brandom’s impressive career and notable attributes make him a great fit to drive and lead the chamber’s mission forward. We are excited from Brandom to take the helm and to welcome him and his family to Bentonville and northwest Arkansas.”
Raised in Houston and the Plano-Addison area of Texas, Gengelbach has a Bachelor of Arts from Samford University in Alabama and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southampton in England, where he was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.
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